Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-04-12
ACROSS THE BRIDGE.
Result OF the Committees Inves-
tigatiOn Last Night.

Messrs. Jones, Breed, Collins and May
n Workman, appointed by the City Cou
Gil to investigate the charges preferre
by Mr.. Stearns against City Survey
Eaton, met last night, Mr.. Jones in IL
CHAIR
The City Attorney suggested that or
testimony be taken and that an expel
Z, engineer be appointed to examine th
i two estimates and to report to the CON
mittee az to the correctness OF either.
Mr.. Eaton said that he had reduce
his evidence to writing, and had sworl
u to it. That was all he had to offer.
The committee then decided to hea
that writing read, and Mr.. Eaton wa
sworn and read a statement Il
: the effect that when the kuhrt
street bridge was first mentioned
| in the Council he stated that {
twenty.foot bridge could be built fol
about $4,000. Afterwards it was de
: cided to put car-track on the bridge
, and plans were drawn up for thirty
foot bridge, which plans he offered as ar
exhibit, copy of which had been filed
with the Clerk of the Council. These
plans were adouted by the Council. bu!
no specifications were written at Ibis
, time and the estimate was made for
about Sl2,396. 10, presented November
Il, 1856. The estimate was also en-.
tered as on exhibit Afterward changes
were made which would improve
the bridge in appearance as well as
strength. These changes were incor-
porated in second plan, which was also
filed with the Clerk. Afterward Mr.
Stearns called at his office and said the
plans did not include sidewalks. Then
on the l4th day of January, 1887.
"NoTEs ON BRIDGES"
Which made provision for sidewalks
were filed with the Clerk. These notes
were included in. the plans and that
made 40 foot bridge instead of 80 foot
bridge, as originally intended. This
made an entirely different bridge fromthe
one which had been estimated at $l2, 500
Since that time nothing had been done
| by the Surveyors Office to influence the
competitors in their bids in the least.
These notes were made for the purpose
of binding bidders to certain things and
not to be considered as specifications.
Those things which were called specifcl.
tions were frauds, because while called
specifications they are only notes. The
designers and bidders furnish the specifi.
cations. which are the only plans and
specifications. The changes in The plans
and specifications of the Bridge Com
pany were submitted to the Bridge Com
mittee and the members were satisfied
that the changes were for the benefit of
the city. The specifications went before
the Council signed by all the members of
the Bridge Committee. The gentlemen
who figured on the notes took their esti
mate from the wrong paper, and if they
had figured from the same specii cations
he did, the only specifications, this
senssless investig alton would never have
come up.
Mayor Workman had asked him to
make rough figures to see if there was a
job in it. Mr.. Meyers had only taken
Two hours in preparing the estimate and
the figures were only hastily prepared.
Another estimate had been prepared As
a correction of the other which showed |
the prices more particularly. This was
introduced as an exhibit. The total cost
of the bridge, according to the corrected
estimates. was Sl3 795, 81.
AUGUST MEYERS STATEMENT.
Mr.. c. Meyers stated that when the
bids came in the Bridge Committee refer
red them to the City Surveyor, He
had examined the plans aud had come
to the concius on that there Were but
two bids accompanied by specifications
which complied with the notes prepared
for the kuhrts street bridge. The city
Surveyor recommended the bid and
specifications of the San Francisco Bridge
Co. with some changes which increased
the cost.
Councilman Tom Goss, was sworn and |
stated that he had talked with Mr.. |
Eaton and asked if it was o proper
structure. and he said it was. The in.
formation of the City Surveyor and the
report of the Bridge Committee influence
him in voting for the contract After |
the contract was let Mr.. McMullin had |
told him that there was only 5000 or
500 profit. He understood Mr.. Eaton |
to say that this bridge the city had let
was altogether different bridge from
the one which Mr.. Stearns thought it
was. He remembered that Mr.. Stearns |
made some objections in the meeting.
Mr.. Jones stated that all the Council |
men would admit that Mr.. Eaton's state |
ment had influenced them in voting to |
award the bid.
Mr.. Stearns said he was willing to end the
case right there. His intention was to
show that there had been an inordinate |
amount OF profit. He would show that |
Ec+o Sata tu oh, a1,1l al
false. He would ask competent bridge |
engineers to figure, and they will show
Mr.. Eaton's statements false.
Mr.. Kuhrts stated that the minutes of |
the Bridge Committee would show that
Mr.. Stearhs himself moved that the
cost of the bridge be increased by add
ing sidewalks, which would add about
$2500. In the meeting it was stated
that it would cost that much extra. He
was not Influenced by the City Survey.
or's statement.
MR.. McMULLIN'S s TALK.
Mr.. McMullin said that he had come
500 miles and had been telegraphed for,
1t was not Mr.. Eaton's reputation alone |!
that was at stake, but that of the San
Francisco Bridge Company. He would
like to be heard. He wanted to say all
he would ever say before this tri.
bunal because it would probably |
be brought before another tribunal, Ger.
tainly by the San Francisco Bridge Com
pany. He imagined that the company
had suffered very little by the charges
emanatipg from such source, but if the
committee should sus stain the charges.
then the company would certainly suffer
He knew the committee wanted to got
at the truth. The charges had been
telegraphed to San Francisco, aud in the
four days before he came down here %
men had tackled him and wanted to
know what crime he had committed in
Los Angeles. He was about to complete
a contract with the Ballona Harbor Com.
many. The papars were drawn un. and